Wedding caterer upping prices after deposit paid

RichTHFC

Hello!

Bit of a dilemma with our wedding caterer...

When they first contacted us they provided menus and did state when they sent the menu "prices subject to change and availability". We discussed options and pricing over the phone, after about a month the pricing was confirmed and a deposit was paid, but the only term detailed on that was "full payment 10 days prior to event" and we weren't presented with any T&C's.

The caterer has now (7 months later) emailed to say she has had to increase the price of the menus "due to fuel prices and cost of living"...so the base menu is now £4 extra per head, with an additional £1.95 a head for an extra choice on the menu. This is a 30% increase in the cost of the food...!

I'm aware they did originally say "prices subject to change", but this is NOT detailed on their website terms and conditions and wasnt mentioned again at any other time, and it feels like we've basically written a blank cheque with 10 months to go - with possibility of prices further increasing despite the deposit already being paid.

Any idea if this is legit or has anyone else experienced the same? No other suppliers (including evening food) have followed suit as yet.

I'm not fully unreasonable- well aware cost of living has increased, and had it been a case of £2 a head or something more sensible (more in line with inflation etc) then we'd probably be alright with that but this seems excessive.

Thanks!
Rich

TELLIT01

If you have seen the massively increased price of food, electricity etc over the past several months it really shouldn't be a surprise to you that prices from the caterer have increased.  All you can do is speak to the company and either try to come to a compromise or try to get your money back.  Bear in mind that it probable that every other caterer will also have (a) increased their prices in the past several months and (b) will have a clause in their contracts covering 'subject to change and availability'.

Aylesbury_Duck

RichTHFC said:

Hello!

Bit of a dilemma with our wedding caterer...

When they first contacted us they provided menus and did state when they sent the menu "prices subject to change and availability". We discussed options and pricing over the phone, after about a month the pricing was confirmed and a deposit was paid, but the only term detailed on that was "full payment 10 days prior to event" and we weren't presented with any T&C's.

The caterer has now (7 months later) emailed to say she has had to increase the price of the menus "due to fuel prices and cost of living"...so the base menu is now £4 extra per head, with an additional £1.95 a head for an extra choice on the menu. This is a 30% increase in the cost of the food...!

I'm aware they did originally say "prices subject to change", but this is NOT detailed on their website terms and conditions and wasnt mentioned again at any other time, and it feels like we've basically written a blank cheque with 10 months to go - with possibility of prices further increasing despite the deposit already being paid.

Any idea if this is legit or has anyone else experienced the same? No other suppliers (including evening food) have followed suit as yet.

I'm not fully unreasonable- well aware cost of living has increased, and had it been a case of £2 a head or something more sensible (more in line with inflation etc) then we'd probably be alright with that but this seems excessive.

Thanks!
Rich

It sounds reasonable, but understandably you have a budget.  Time to negotiate.  Can you find a replacement caterer for that date that will be significantly cheaper than these new prices?  If you can't, there's little point exercising any right to cancel.  Speak to them, perhaps compromise on the menu choices to bring the price down a little, but also to understand what they're offering if you want to cancel.

RichTHFC

TELLIT01 said:

If you have seen the massively increased price of food, electricity etc over the past several months it really shouldn't be a surprise to you that prices from the caterer have increased.  All you can do is speak to the company and either try to come to a compromise or try to get your money back.  Bear in mind that it probable that every other caterer will also have (a) increased their prices in the past several months and (b) will have a clause in their contracts covering 'subject to change and availability'.

Yeah of course prices have increased, its just the 30% hike seems a bit much really. Also slightly unsure when the contract was agreed - nothing has been signed it's all email agreement so at the point the offer was made and accepted, terms weren't provided. All a bit of a mess but think we'll try and negotiate. Would imagine somewhere in fair trading regulation "subject to change" would have to have limits otherwise in another few months there's nothing to stop the menu changing. Thanks for your comment

RichTHFC

Aylesbury_Duck said:

RichTHFC said:

Hello!

Bit of a dilemma with our wedding caterer...

When they first contacted us they provided menus and did state when they sent the menu "prices subject to change and availability". We discussed options and pricing over the phone, after about a month the pricing was confirmed and a deposit was paid, but the only term detailed on that was "full payment 10 days prior to event" and we weren't presented with any T&C's.

The caterer has now (7 months later) emailed to say she has had to increase the price of the menus "due to fuel prices and cost of living"...so the base menu is now £4 extra per head, with an additional £1.95 a head for an extra choice on the menu. This is a 30% increase in the cost of the food...!

I'm aware they did originally say "prices subject to change", but this is NOT detailed on their website terms and conditions and wasnt mentioned again at any other time, and it feels like we've basically written a blank cheque with 10 months to go - with possibility of prices further increasing despite the deposit already being paid.

Any idea if this is legit or has anyone else experienced the same? No other suppliers (including evening food) have followed suit as yet.

I'm not fully unreasonable- well aware cost of living has increased, and had it been a case of £2 a head or something more sensible (more in line with inflation etc) then we'd probably be alright with that but this seems excessive.

Thanks!
Rich

It sounds reasonable, but understandably you have a budget.  Time to negotiate.  Can you find a replacement caterer for that date that will be significantly cheaper than these new prices?  If you can't, there's little point exercising any right to cancel.  Speak to them, perhaps compromise on the menu choices to bring the price down a little, but also to understand what they're offering if you want to cancel.

I suppose ultimately its deciphering what we and they feel is reasonable and trying to meet in the middle. A 10% hike would be more in line with inflation rates since March (I'm thinking that's generous but 10% we'd be alright with), 30% feels like a bit of a shafting 🤣
We went with this one for their prices and because they suited the budget, as they have blanket prices covering all menu options on a price-per-head basis, so its tough...could have a look round but will try the negotiations first. Thanks very much!

elsien

Ask them for a proper copy of the terms and conditions while you're at it? 

RichTHFC

elsien said:

Ask them for a proper copy of the terms and conditions while you're at it? 

Good shout thanks! Their website has T&C's but we didn't find them through this, it was via Facebook which doesn't have their terms. Within these terms it does say ingredients may change subject to availability/seasonality but there's no mention of the price being allowed to change within these. Will definitely ask for a copy though when we discuss it all, thanks!

Aylesbury_Duck

RichTHFC said:

Aylesbury_Duck said:

RichTHFC said:

Hello!

Bit of a dilemma with our wedding caterer...

When they first contacted us they provided menus and did state when they sent the menu "prices subject to change and availability". We discussed options and pricing over the phone, after about a month the pricing was confirmed and a deposit was paid, but the only term detailed on that was "full payment 10 days prior to event" and we weren't presented with any T&C's.

The caterer has now (7 months later) emailed to say she has had to increase the price of the menus "due to fuel prices and cost of living"...so the base menu is now £4 extra per head, with an additional £1.95 a head for an extra choice on the menu. This is a 30% increase in the cost of the food...!

I'm aware they did originally say "prices subject to change", but this is NOT detailed on their website terms and conditions and wasnt mentioned again at any other time, and it feels like we've basically written a blank cheque with 10 months to go - with possibility of prices further increasing despite the deposit already being paid.

Any idea if this is legit or has anyone else experienced the same? No other suppliers (including evening food) have followed suit as yet.

I'm not fully unreasonable- well aware cost of living has increased, and had it been a case of £2 a head or something more sensible (more in line with inflation etc) then we'd probably be alright with that but this seems excessive.

Thanks!
Rich

It sounds reasonable, but understandably you have a budget.  Time to negotiate.  Can you find a replacement caterer for that date that will be significantly cheaper than these new prices?  If you can't, there's little point exercising any right to cancel.  Speak to them, perhaps compromise on the menu choices to bring the price down a little, but also to understand what they're offering if you want to cancel.

I suppose ultimately its deciphering what we and they feel is reasonable and trying to meet in the middle. A 10% hike would be more in line with inflation rates since March (I'm thinking that's generous but 10% we'd be alright with), 30% feels like a bit of a shafting 🤣
We went with this one for their prices and because they suited the budget, as they have blanket prices covering all menu options on a price-per-head basis, so its tough...could have a look round but will try the negotiations first. Thanks very much!

The trouble with inflation is that it is an average of a whole range of cost changes over a rolling year, so whilst a headline might state inflation is 10%, that doesn't necessarily translate to a business whose own operating costs might be those suffering from higher levels of increases.  No business is 'typical' in that sense, so catering supplies and services might very well cost 30% more than they did seven months ago.  Neither do you know whether the supplier had absorbed significant cost increases for months without passing those onto prices until they no longer could, and you just happened to place your order just before that happened.  At the end of the day, they presumably want your business so there's little point setting out to 'shaft' you - even if you cancelled and they withheld some of your deposit, they'd still make more profit from actually providing the service.

It'll come down to negotiation, but bear in mind you don't want to win a price battle and have your wedding catering supplied by a company that thinks you've shafted them.  Good luck, I'm sure it'll get to a mutually agreeable outcome.

RichTHFC

Aylesbury_Duck said:

RichTHFC said:

Aylesbury_Duck said:

RichTHFC said:

Hello!

Bit of a dilemma with our wedding caterer...

When they first contacted us they provided menus and did state when they sent the menu "prices subject to change and availability". We discussed options and pricing over the phone, after about a month the pricing was confirmed and a deposit was paid, but the only term detailed on that was "full payment 10 days prior to event" and we weren't presented with any T&C's.

The caterer has now (7 months later) emailed to say she has had to increase the price of the menus "due to fuel prices and cost of living"...so the base menu is now £4 extra per head, with an additional £1.95 a head for an extra choice on the menu. This is a 30% increase in the cost of the food...!

I'm aware they did originally say "prices subject to change", but this is NOT detailed on their website terms and conditions and wasnt mentioned again at any other time, and it feels like we've basically written a blank cheque with 10 months to go - with possibility of prices further increasing despite the deposit already being paid.

Any idea if this is legit or has anyone else experienced the same? No other suppliers (including evening food) have followed suit as yet.

I'm not fully unreasonable- well aware cost of living has increased, and had it been a case of £2 a head or something more sensible (more in line with inflation etc) then we'd probably be alright with that but this seems excessive.

Thanks!
Rich

It sounds reasonable, but understandably you have a budget.  Time to negotiate.  Can you find a replacement caterer for that date that will be significantly cheaper than these new prices?  If you can't, there's little point exercising any right to cancel.  Speak to them, perhaps compromise on the menu choices to bring the price down a little, but also to understand what they're offering if you want to cancel.

I suppose ultimately its deciphering what we and they feel is reasonable and trying to meet in the middle. A 10% hike would be more in line with inflation rates since March (I'm thinking that's generous but 10% we'd be alright with), 30% feels like a bit of a shafting 🤣
We went with this one for their prices and because they suited the budget, as they have blanket prices covering all menu options on a price-per-head basis, so its tough...could have a look round but will try the negotiations first. Thanks very much!

The trouble with inflation is that it is an average of a whole range of cost changes over a rolling year, so whilst a headline might state inflation is 10%, that doesn't necessarily translate to a business whose own operating costs might be those suffering from higher levels of increases.  No business is 'typical' in that sense, so catering supplies and services might very well cost 30% more than they did seven months ago.  Neither do you know whether the supplier had absorbed significant cost increases for months without passing those onto prices until they no longer could, and you just happened to place your order just before that happened.  At the end of the day, they presumably want your business so there's little point setting out to 'shaft' you - even if you cancelled and they withheld some of your deposit, they'd still make more profit from actually providing the service.

It'll come down to negotiation, but bear in mind you don't want to win a price battle and have your wedding catering supplied by a company that thinks you've shafted them.  Good luck, I'm sure it'll get to a mutually agreeable outcome.

Ah that makes sense. Interestingly, the supplier broke down all costs between food/staff/equipment etc and it's only the food element which seems to be impacted rather than the other services...maybe that's next up who knows?!

Very good point about wanting our business. Ultimately we want them too so it'll be a balance of be nice and try get a settlement in the middle somewhere. Thanks for your advice and thoughts!

TELLIT01

Purely on the inflation figures.  Food price inflation for the 12 months to September was 13.1%, and just between June and July was 2.3%.  Both figures from the ONS (Office for National Statistics).  Commercial fuel costs have increased by several hundred %.

sheramber

When is the wedding/  If it is some time away prices could increase even more.

Tread carefully. Beware of cost cutting  if they agree to a power price- .  cheaper,  lower quality supplies, poorer service on the day.